1.Preliminary application of sacral neuromodulation in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia complicated with underactive bladder after transurethral resection of the prostate
Ning LIU ; Yan ZHANG ; Tao LI ; Qiang HU ; Kai LU ; Lei ZHANG ; Jianping WU ; Shuqiu CHEN ; Bin XU ; Ming CHEN
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(1):39-42
[Objective] To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) complicated with underactive bladder (UAB) who respond poorly to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). [Methods] A retrospective analysis was performed on 10 patients with BPH and UAB treated with TURP by the same surgeon in Zhongda Hospital Southeast University during Jan.2018 and Jan.2023.The residual urine volume was not significantly relieved after operation, and the maximum urine flow rate and urine volume per discharge were not significantly improved.All patients underwent phase I SNM, and urinary diaries were recorded before and after surgery to observe the average daily frequency of urination, volume per urination, maximum urine flow rate, and residual urine volume. [Results] The operation time was (97.6±11.2) min.During the postoperative test of 2-4 weeks, if the residual urine volume reduction by more than 50% was deemed as effective, SNM was effective in 6 patients (60.0%). Compared with preoperative results, the daily frequency of urination [(20.2±3.8) times vs. (13.2±3.2) times], volume per urination [(119.2±56.7) mL vs. (246.5±59.2) mL], maximum urine flow rate [(8.7±1.5) mL/s vs. (16.5±2.6) mL/s], and residual urine volume [(222.5±55.0) mL vs. (80.8±16.0) mL] were significantly improved, with statistical significance (P<0.05). There were no complications such as bleeding, infection, fever or pain.The 6 patients who had effective outcomes successfully completed phase II surgery, and the fistula was removed.During the follow-up of 1 year, the curative effect was stable, and there were no complications such as electrode displacement, incision infection, or pain in the irritation sites.The residual urine volume of the other 4 unsuccessful patients did not improve significantly, and the electrodes were removed and the vesicostomy tube was retained. [Conclusion] SNM is safe and effective in the treatment of BPH with UAB patients with poor curative effects after TURP.
2.Clinical Efficacy and Mechanism of Danggui Liuhuang Tang in Reducing Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Yin Deficiency and Fire Excess Syndrome
Yuanying XU ; Shanshan YU ; Xinyan JIN ; MAREYANMU·ROSE ; Cheng CHEN ; Wenjun SHA ; Tao LEI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):163-172
ObjectiveThis study aims to observe the clinical effect of Danggui Liuhuang Tang (DGLHT) on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complicated by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) at high risk, focus on evaluating the influence of DGLHT on cardiovascular risk indicators such as flow-mediated dilation (FMD), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), and explore the regulatory effect of DGLHT on the myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor-kappa B (MyD88/NF-κB) signaling pathway. MethodsThe clinical study was a single-center, double-blind, and randomized controlled trial. A total of 68 patients with T2DM-ASCVD at high risk for cardiovascular events with Yin deficiency and fire excess syndrome were enrolled and randomly assigned to a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group was given atorvastatin calcium tablets and DGLHT, while the control group was given atorvastatin calcium tablets and placebos. The treatment course was 12 weeks, with a final study completion of 30 patients in the treatment group and 29 in the control group. Changes in cardiovascular risk indicators such as FMD, AIP, TyG, and small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C) index were compared. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to establish a vascular endothelial injury and inflammation model. The protective effect of DGLHT on endothelial injury was verified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot . ResultsAfter 12 weeks of treatment, the AIP in the treatment group significantly decreased compared with that before the treatment (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the treatment group showed significant improvements in FMD and TyG (P<0.05). Additionally, the treatment group demonstrated significant reductions in two-hour postprandial glucose (2 hPG), glycated albumin (GA), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein E (Apo E), and sdLDL-C (P<0.05). Analysis of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome efficacy indicated that in the treatment group, Yin deficiency and fire excess syndromes, including dry throat and mouth (P<0.05), excessive thirst (P<0.01), tidal fever and night sweats (P<0.05), and dry stools (P<0.05), improved. Compared with the control group, the treatment group showed significant improvements in symptoms of dry throat and mouth (P<0.05) and excessive thirst (P<0.01). TCM syndrome scores significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the overall efficacy rate was 56.67%, significantly higher than the 10.34% observed in the control group (P<0.01). At the cellular level, increasing concentrations of DGLHT led to decreased messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated HUVECs (P<0.01), with significant reductions in the high-concentration group (P<0.01). DGLHT may inhibit the expressions of MyD88 and phosphorylated (p)-NF-κB p65 proteins in a concentration-dependent manner. ConclusionDGLHT shows significant effects in reducing cardiovascular risks and may exert an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. This finding provides a new perspective for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in high-risk individuals with T2DM-ASCVD.
3.The Application of Spatial Resolved Metabolomics in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Lu-Tao XU ; Qian LI ; Shu-Lei HAN ; Huan CHEN ; Hong-Wei HOU ; Qing-Yuan HU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2346-2359
The pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) is fundamentally linked to complex and profound alterations in metabolic networks within the brain, which exhibit marked spatial heterogeneity. While conventional bulk metabolomics is powerful for detecting global metabolic shifts, it inherently lacks spatial resolution. This methodological limitation hampers the ability to interrogate critical metabolic dysregulation within discrete anatomical brain regions and specific cellular microenvironments, thereby constraining a deeper understanding of the core pathological mechanisms that initiate and drive NDDs. To address this critical gap, spatial metabolomics, with mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) at its core, has emerged as a transformative approach. It uniquely overcomes the limitations of bulk methods by enabling high-resolution, simultaneous detection and precise localization of hundreds to thousands of endogenous molecules—including primary metabolites, complex lipids, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and essential metal ions—directly in situ from tissue sections. This powerful capability offers an unprecedented spatial perspective for investigating the intricate and heterogeneous chemical landscape of NDD pathology, opening new avenues for discovery. Accordingly, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the field, beginning with a discussion of the technical features, optimal application scenarios, and current limitations of major MSI platforms. These include the widely adopted matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MSI, the ultra-high-resolution technique of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)-MSI, and the ambient ionization method of desorption electrospray ionization (DESI)-MSI, along with other emerging technologies. We then highlight the pivotal applications of spatial metabolomics in NDD research, particularly its role in elucidating the profound chemical heterogeneity within distinct pathological microenvironments. These applications include mapping unique molecular signatures around amyloid β‑protein (Aβ) plaques, uncovering the metabolic consequences of neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, and characterizing the lipid and metabolite composition of Lewy bodies. Moreover, we examine how spatial metabolomics contributes to constructing detailed metabolic vulnerability maps across the brain, shedding light on the biochemical factors that render certain neuronal populations and anatomical regions selectively susceptible to degeneration while others remain resilient. Looking beyond current applications, we explore the immense potential of integrating spatial metabolomics with other advanced research methodologies. This includes its combination with three-dimensional brain organoid models to recapitulate disease-relevant metabolic processes, its linkage with multi-organ axis studies to investigate how systemic metabolic health influences neurodegeneration, and its convergence with single-cell and subcellular analyses to achieve unprecedented molecular resolution. In conclusion, this review not only summarizes the current state and critical role of spatial metabolomics in NDD research but also offers a forward-looking perspective on its transformative potential. We envision its continued impact in advancing our fundamental understanding of NDDs and accelerating translation into clinical practice—from the discovery of novel biomarkers for early diagnosis to the development of high-throughput drug screening platforms and the realization of precision medicine for individuals affected by these devastating disorders.
4.Phenomics of traditional Chinese medicine 2.0: the integration with digital medicine
Min Xu ; Xinyi Shao ; Donggeng Guo ; Xiaojing Yan ; Lei Wang ; Tao Yang ; Hao LIANG ; Qinghua PENG ; Lingyu Linda Ye ; Haibo Cheng ; Dayue Darrel Duan
Digital Chinese Medicine 2025;8(3):282-299
Abstract
Modern western medicine typically focuses on treating specific symptoms or diseases, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) emphasizes the interconnections of the body’s various systems under external environment and takes a holistic approach to preventing and treating diseases. Phenomics was initially introduced to the field of TCM in 2008 as a new discipline that studies the laws of integrated and dynamic changes of human clinical phenomes under the scope of the theories and practices of TCM based on phenomics. While TCM Phenomics 1.0 has initially established a clinical phenomic system centered on Zhenghou (a TCM definition of clinical phenome), bottlenecks remain in data standardization, mechanistic interpretation, and precision intervention. Here, we systematically elaborates on the theoretical foundations, technical pathways, and future challenges of integrating digital medicine with TCM phenomics under the framework of “TCM phenomics 2.0”, which is supported by digital medicine technologies such as artificial intelligence, wearable devices, medical digital twins, and multi-omics integration. This framework aims to construct a closed-loop system of “Zhenghou–Phenome–Mechanism–Intervention” and to enable the digitization, standardization, and precision of disease diagnosis and treatment. The integration of digital medicine and TCM phenomics not only promotes the modernization and scientific transformation of TCM theory and practice but also offers new paradigms for precision medicine. In practice, digital tools facilitate multi-source clinical data acquisition and standardization, while AI and big data algorithms help reveal the correlations between clinical Zhenghou phenomes and molecular mechanisms, thereby improving scientific rigor in diagnosis, efficacy evaluation, and personalized intervention. Nevertheless, challenges persist, including data quality and standardization issues, shortage of interdisciplinary talents, and insufficiency of ethical and legal regulations. Future development requires establishing national data-sharing platforms, strengthening international collaboration, fostering interdisciplinary professionals, and improving ethical and legal frameworks. Ultimately, this approach seeks to build a new disease identification and classification system centered on phenomes and to achieve the inheritance, innovation, and modernization of TCM diagnostic and therapeutic patterns.
5.Observation on the efficacy of continuous veno-venous hemodia-filtration combined with hemoperfusion HA380 in the treatment of 15 cases of heat stroke with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome
Yuqin HUANG ; Lei LONG ; Qiang HUANG ; Qunbo WANG ; Ke JIN ; Tao JU ; Luting DAI ; Huaqiang XU ; Wenguo WANG ; Quan ZHOU
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2024;36(5):532-537
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of continuous veno-venous hemodia-filtration (CVVHDF) combined with hemoperfusion (HP) HA380 in the treatment of heat stroke patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).Methods:A retrospective and observational study was conducted. A total of 15 patients with heat stroke combined with MODS who were admitted to the department of intensive care unit (ICU)of Suizhou Central Hospital/Hubei University of Medicine from July to September 2022 were selected as the study objects. All 15 patients were treated with CVVHDF combined with HA380 based on the comprehensive management strategy for severe illness. Organ function indicators [including total bilirubin (TBil), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine (Cr), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), myoglobin (Myo), MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA)] and inflammatory indicators [including white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEU), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] were collected. The improvements of the above indexes at admission, after the first HP, after the second HP, after the third HP, and on the 5th day of treatment were compared. Combined with the clinical outcome of patients, the comprehensive efficacy of CVVHDF combined with HA380 in the treatment of severe heat radiation disease was evaluated.Results:There were 10 males and 5 females among the 15 patients. The average age was (64.5±11.5) years old. There were 6 cases of classical heat stroke and 9 cases of exertional heat stroke. Glasgow coma scale (GCS) was 3-8 at admission; SOFA score was 9-17 within 12 hours after admission; acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ) was 25-45 within 24 hours after admission. After treatment, the IL-6 level and SOFA score gradually decreased, and there were significant differences in the decrease after the second HP compared to admission [IL-6 (ng/L): 48.37 (15.36, 113.03) vs. 221.90 (85.87, 425.90), SOFA: 8.3±3.3 vs. 11.1±2.4, both P < 0.05]. The PCT level reached its peak after the first HP [12.51 (6.07, 41.65) μg/L], and then gradually decreased, and the difference was statistically significant after the third HP [1.26 (0.82, 5.40) μg/L, P < 0.05]. Compared those at admission, Cr level significantly improved after the first HP (μmol/L: 66.94±25.57 vs. 110.80±31.13, P < 0.01), Myo significantly decreased after the second HP [μg/L: 490.90 (164.98, 768.05) vs. 3?000.00 (293.00, 3?000.00), P < 0.05], After the third HP, the CK level also showed significant improvement [U/L: 476.0 (413.0, 922.0) vs. 2?107.0 (729.0, 2?449.0), P < 0.05]. After CVVHDF combined with 3 times HP treatment, the patient's inflammatory response was gradually controlled and organ function gradually recovered. On the 5th day of the disease course, WBC, PCT and IL-6 levels were significantly improved compared to admission, and AST, CK, LDH, Cr, Myo, CK-MB, and SOFA score were significantly corrected compared with those on admission. The 24-hour survival rate of 15 patients was 86.67%, and the 24-hour, 7-day and 28-day survival rates were both as high as 73.33%. The average mechanical ventilation time of 11 surviving patients was (101.8±22.0) hours, the average continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) time was (58.8±11.0) hours, the average length of ICU stay was (6.3±1.0) days, and the average total hospitalization was (14.6±5.2) days. Conclusion:CVVHDF combined with HP HA380 in the treatment of heat stroke patients with MODS can effectively improve organ function and alleviate the inflammatory storm, which is an effective means to improve the rescue rate and reduce the mortality of severe heat stroke patients.
6.Clinical effects of Polygonum cuspidatum on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus of Dampness-Heat Pattern
Yuan-Ying XU ; Wen-Wen KONG ; Hong-Ping YIN ; Hui-Hui ZHANG ; Xing-Hua CAI ; Bi-Lin XU ; Wen-Jun SHA ; Tao LEI
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(8):2596-2600
AIM To explore the clinical effects of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb.et Zucc.on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus of Dampness-Heat Pattern.METHODS One hundred and forty patients were randomly assigned into control group(70 cases)for 8-week intervention of conventional treatment,and observation group(70 cases)for 8-week intervention of both P.cuspidatum granules and conventional treatment.The changes in body weight,BMI,blood glucose indices(FBG,2 h PG,HbA1C,GA),blood lipid indices(TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,ApoA-I,ApoB,ApoA,ApoE,sdLDL-C),liver function indices(ALT,AST),fatty liver progression,TyG,HSI,TCM syndrome score and effects were detected.RESULTS The observation group demonstrated higher total effective rates of TCM syndromes than the control group(P<0.01),along with slighter fatty liver progression(P<0.01).After the treatment,the observation group displayed decreased body weight,BMI,FBG,GA,TG,ApoE,TyG,HSI,ALT and TCM syndrome score(P<0.05,P<0.01),and 2 h PG,TyG,HSI,ALT,TCM syndrome score were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05,P<0.01).CONCLUSION For the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus of Dampness-Heat Pattern,P.cuspidatum can improve glucose and lipid metabolism disorders,which is worthy of clinical popularization and application.
7.Qualitative study on the experience and demand of endoscopic treatment for patients with pancreatic duct stones
Hong TAO ; Yu CAO ; Jia-Yun CHEN ; Qi ZHAO ; Fang-Lei XU ; Zhuan LIAO
Modern Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment in Gastroenterology 2024;29(5):519-522,527
Objective To explore the feelings and needs of patients with pancreatic duct stones undergoing endoscopic treatment,and to provide a basis for formulating personalized methods.Methods Purposive sampling method was used to select 15 patients who were treated in the Department of Gastroenterology of a Class Ⅲ Grade A hospital in Shanghai from February to April 2023 for semi-structured interviews.Colaizzi 7-step analysis method was used to code and summarize the data to refine the theme.Results The treatment experience and needs of patients were summarized into four themes.① Inadequate pain cognition and coping management before treatment:characterized by persistent or intermittent abdominal pain;The location of onset is hidden and easy to be misdiagnosed.Ineffective coping style;Affecting daily life and reducing the quality of life.② Changes of physiological comfort during the diagnosis and treatment period:abdominal soft tissue injury;Postoperative complications.③ Attitude changes after treatment:expectant treatment before diagnosis and treatment;Disappointment and doubt when expectations are not met;Belief after symptom improvement;④ Needs during treatment:professional guidance;Continuous nursing support.Conclusion Patients with pancreatic duct stones have insufficient knowledge of pain before endoscopic treatment.During the treatment,their attitudes may change and they may seek external support.Medical staff should pay attention to the dynamic changes of their physiological,psychological and social needs,and take corresponding measures to reduce pain,improve comfort and promote rehabilitation of patients.
8.Simulation study of brain electrical impedance tomography based on radial basis function neural network
Tao ZHANG ; Xin-Yi WANG ; Jiang-Hui HAO ; Lei LIANG ; Can-Hua XU ; Feng FU ; Xue-Chao LIU
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2024;45(10):1-6
Objective To study the ability of radial basis function neural network(RBFNN)with different implementations for electrical impedance tomography(EIT)under real brain shapes,to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches,and to provide a reference for the selection of practical imaging methods.Methods COMSOL Multiphysics was used to establish a multilayer 2D model with real structure based on brain CT and an EIT simulation dataset.The effects of the exact RBFNN,the orthogonal least squares-based RBFNN(OLS RBFNN)and the K-Means-based BRFNN(K-Means RBFNN)on the image reconstruction result were explored with the dataset constructed.The root mean square error(RMSE)and image correlation coefficient(ICC)were adopted to evaluate the imaging results.Results EIT could be completed with all the three RBFNNs without noise,and the exact RBFNN had the best results with average ICC and RMSE of 0.784 and 0.467,respectively,in the test set.The OLS RBFNN had the best imaging results at a hidden node of 50,with an average ICC and RMSE of 0.788 and 0.462,respectively.The K-Means RBFNN achieved the best imaging results at noise levels of 30,40,50,60,70 and 80 dB with stable ICC and RMSE and high robustness.Conclusion All the three RBFNNs can be used for brain EIT image reconstruction with their own advantages and disadvantages,and the RBFNN has to be selected for EIT reconstruc-tion based on considerations on actual conditions.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(10):1-6]
9.The potential of herbal drugs to treat heart failure:The roles of Sirt1/AMPK
Zhang TAO ; Xu LEI ; Guo XIAOWEI ; Tao HONGLIN ; Liu YUE ; Liu XIANFENG ; Zhang YI ; Meng XIANLI
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2024;14(2):157-176
Heart failure(HF)is a highly morbid syndrome that seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients and generates an enormous socio-economic burden.In addition to cardiac myocyte oxidative stress and apoptosis,which are considered mechanisms for the development of HF,alterations in cardiac energy metabolism and pathological autophagy also contribute to cardiac abnormalities and ultimately HF.Silent information regulator 1(Sirt1)and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD+)-dependent deacetylases and phosphorylated kinases,respectively.They play similar roles in regulating some pathological processes of the heart through regulating targets such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α(PGC-1α),protein 38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK),peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors(PPARs),and mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR).We summarized the synergistic effects of Sirt1 and AMPK in the heart,and listed the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)that exhibit cardioprotective properties by modulating the Sirt1/AMPK pathway,to provide a basis for the development of Sirt1/AMPK activators or inhibitors for the treatment of HF and other cardiovascular diseases(CVDs).
10.Scoring model of MRI features for predicting proliferative hepatocellular carcinoma
Mengtian LU ; Xueqin ZHANG ; Tao ZHANG ; Qi QU ; Zuyi YAN ; Chunyan GU ; Lei XU ; Jifeng JIANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2024;40(6):874-879
Objective To observe the value of the scoring model of MRI features for predicting proliferative hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods Data of 241 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC,including 90 cases of proliferative HCC and 151 cases of non-proliferative HCC were analyzed retrospectively.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to compare the clinical and MRI findings evaluated according to liver imaging reporting and data system version 2018 between groups.The independent predictive factors of proliferative HCC were screened,and scores were assigned according to the weight,then a scoring model was constructed.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn,and the area under the curves(AUC)were calculated to assess the predictive efficacy of this model.The patients were divided into high and low proliferation risk subgroups based on the optimal score thresholds.The recurrence free survival(RFS)rates and early RFS rates were compared between groups and subgroups.Results MRI showed tumor corona enhancement,arterial phase annular hyper-enhancement,intratumoral vessels,much focus parenchymal low enhancement and irregular tumor margins were all independent predictive factors for proliferative HCC(OR=3.287,2.362,4.542,2.997,2.379,all P<0.05),which were then were scored with 7,5,9,7 and 5,respectively,with a total score of 0-33.AUC of the obtained scoring model for predicting proliferative HCC was 0.818.Taken 9 points as the optimal score thresholds,97 cases were assigned into high proliferation subgroup and 144 into low proliferation risk subgroups).Significant differences of RFS rates and early RFS rates were found between groups and subgroups(all P<0.05).Conclusion MRI features scoring model could effectively predict proliferative HCC.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail